The classic rock band Ritchie Blackmore thought were “idiots”
Now, if you were looking for a shy and retiring bouquet of flowers, then going to your nearest rock and roll nursery is probably the wrong move. The industry thrives on loudmouths and ego maniacs, but even among a field of strong contenders for biggest head, Ritchie Blackmore often comes out on top.
The reason that he was able to get away with having such a large mouth with which he lambasted many different bands and legendary outfits, was because he could, as well as talk the talk, walk the walk. Blackmore is one of the most influential guitarists around, so his position under the spotlight is well earned. But, even so, his critique of one legendary act still feels a little harsh.
Not every rock band is looking to innovate whenever they step onstage. For every prog rock band looking to create a vast epic that will stretch on for 20 minutes at a time, some of the biggest stars in the world tend to get by using basic songwriting tools, often playing the most straightforward riffs possible to get the audience on their feet. While Ritchie Blackmore certainly indulged in simplistic guitar riffs from time to time, he thought one band were far from breaking any new ground.
Before Blackmore had even hit the big time with Deep Purple, he was already looking to go beyond the traditional means of songwriting. After spending the first half of the group’s career as a jam band, Blackmore’s ferocious licks, in conjunction with Jon Lord’s Hammond organ, would become a central part of their sound, paving the way for hard rock and heavy metal that was to come years later.
Blackmore wouldn’t stay in the hard rock realm for long, leaving his successful band to form Rainbow. While the new outfit gave him an excuse to stretch his muscles with different Renaissance-style music, one of the giants of rock and roll were going through a renaissance of their own.
After becoming one of the biggest names of the British invasion, The Rolling Stones started working on returning to their roots across their 1970s output. While the death of Brian Jones set a dark undercurrent to the end of the 1960s, albums like Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St would feature some of the most revered licks that Keith Richards would ever come up with while employing his signature open-G tuning.
Even though Richards could take his guitar many places when tuning it differently, Blackmore never thought they were anything special. Despite both bands drawing on elements of blues when making their first albums, Blackmore didn’t think that The Stones had much going on beyond their bluesy swagger.
When discussing his taste in music, Blackmore recalled that there was no way he would listen to The Stones recreationally, saying, “The Stones? I considered them idiots. It was just a nick from Chuck Berry riffs. Chuck Berry was OK. Sometimes I’m outspoken, but I don’t have any time for the Stones. I can see why they’re respected, and their rhythms are very good, very steady on record. I respect them, but I don’t like them”.
While Blackmore may have had choice words about how Richards came up with his riffs, there are a few elements between the guitarists in common that most give them credit for. Although Blackmore may be known more for his licks and understanding of different exotic scales, both he and Richards have strongly emphasised rhythm in their respective outfits, always being able to lay down a clear pulse for the song to ebb and flow throughout its runtime.
Whereas Richards has found his own niche for writing fantastic songs, Blackmore has continued to innovate throughout his career, going so far as to leave rock and roll behind altogether in his Renaissance-themed project, Blackmore’s Night. For all of the great licks that both Richards and Blackmore have given the world, the Deep Purple guitarist is more interested in where his muse will take him next than copying what has come before.
